Store bought goods have a predetermined expiration date on the product package (can, jar, etc.). Is there a rule-of-thumb for the expiration of home-canned goods?

-- Neva in So. WI (neva@cheerful.com), August 20, 2001

Answers

if it looks or smell bad,, pitch it

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 20, 2001.

High acid fruits and acid tomatoe products are deemed safe as long as the jar retains a vacuum seal, the "whoosh" sound when you open a jar, despite the age of the product.

Everything else is also safe if the vacuum seal is intact, but should be boiled hard for 20 minutes if there is any reason to suspect the contents. Do not use at all if it looks or smells "off".

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 20, 2001.

If you do feel it is unsafe to eat, dispose of the food carefully so your animals or wild things can't get into it. The nasties in the food can sicken or kill your stock as easily as it can harm you.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), August 21, 2001.

A good rule of thumb on home canned (and store bought) is to rotate out and use them up at no later than two years of age.

Provided they were properly processed and have maintained a good seal the food in the jars will still be safe to eat past the two year mark but generally about then you'll start to notice changes in taste, texture, color and so on and the nutritional content will have started to fade as well.

Storage temperature plays a major role in all of this so the cooler the better providing they never freeze. With glass jars exposure to light is also very important so keep them in the dark.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), August 21, 2001.

Good as long as they are sealed! Years and years. Nutritional value is lost but they are still ok.

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), August 22, 2001.